Singer Akemi Fox introduces us to her chill vibe

Akemi : I started to write songs years ago, like when I was really young, silly songs I used to write in my book. I remember one song that really sticks out. It was some weird love song that I made. I think I was like 12 and I was just making it up. I submitted the song lyrics in class and I remember I wasn’t in when they read it. They were like “Waouh, what’s happening with you? What’s this relationship you’re talking about ?” but it was completely made up. It made me cringe a lot (laughs).

koladapina : Where do you think it’s come from this ability to talk about deep things that you may not have experienced yet?

Akemi : My mum is into writing and I think I’ve always been inspired by that. I was always a big lover of telling stories and reading, especially when I was younger. I really enjoyed English at school. I think it all started from that and just being able to use music as a way of telling these stories in a slightly different way.  Inspiration from lyricists like Amy Winehouse, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu and the experiences of writing in school made me able to create stories even if they weren’t real and make them into some lyrics.

Akemi : As a side I’ve always enjoyed it since I was very young. I’ve had the worst stage fright so it was never something that I did too much. I remember there would be things at school like an assembly or the concert of the year or something and I was always too scared to do that. So I used to make small Instagram videos of me singing and would just upload them. And then I met producers and we’d do some songs. 

The main moment that made me want to do singing is when I met my producer now, Teo which was when I was 19. We had a very good working relationship because he was able to make beats and music that I wanted to hear. We were able to be critical to each other and create really good songs. Since then I was like “Ok, I could take this more seriously”. So, it’s not too long ago to be honest. Obviously it was just a hobby before but I feel like the songs that I have made in the past couple of years are strong and I could take that forward.

Akemi : Definitely. There’s much music that I listen to that is UK based. Especially where I live in Manchester, there’s a lot of new talents and a very good music scene. It’s nice to see because, especially in Manchester, everyone is quite friendly with each other, always offering advice and tips and collaborating. It feels like a really strong community to be a part of and people are just like enjoying each other’s music and always sharing things. The UK as a whole has definitely so much new music and new artists that I love, especially within my genre and like r&b, neo soul kind of vibe. There’s been a lot more in that scene from the UK recently. It’s nice and comforting to know that maybe there is some kind of space for me.

Akemi Fox on her chill kind of sound

Akemi : I never know what to call myself because it’s kind of a weight to put yourself in a box. I feel like everyone interprets things differently as well. Some people do say it’s neo-soul and then people say it’s alternative r&b. I just say it’s very chill. Maybe music in the sun, like chill picnic music, I don’t know, something like that (laughs). The umbrella would probably be obviously alternative r&b. But you never know, I could change my sound at some point but for right now that’s what I call myself.

People also say my music is like after-party music, you’ve been out and you come back home and you’re chilling all together and playing my genre of music. People call it going out music, picnic music, rainy days,I have a lot of titles. 

koladapina : The song ‘Lemon Tea’ was inspired by an empty cartoon of lemon tea, can you tell me more about the story behind the song? 

Akemi : I was just basically at the studio and there was an empty lemon tea cartoon and a beat playing and I was like “oh it would be funny if I could make a song about that”. So it just came from me saying “lemon tea”, and I was like this could actually be a song. Things as simple as a drink can inspire me (laughs). 

It’s described as something sweet, like love. That’s how it kind of came together. It’s nice to have a concept behind a song just because everything that follows for example your album, a single artwork or a video can be based around that which is always nice. Kind of make things a bit easier. I made a little video to do with lemon, which was fun and playful and I like the color yellow, so it was nice (laughs).

koladapina : Can we expect an EP or an album soon? 

Akemi : Yeah, I’m at the moment working on an EP, so exciting! ‘Lemon Tea’ is the first single on that. A second single should come shortly. I’m excited to bring it out. I feel like it will be nice to have a full project. There’s a whole mix of stuff, some songs with different production and change of scenarios. I’m excited to share it.

Akemi Fox on her music inspirations

Akemi : Beyoncé’s first album always inspires me. I don’t necessarily sing the same as her and it’s not completely the same genre but I think Dangerously in Love album is one of the first albums I’ve heard in CD and it’s always something I listen back to. It just really relates to me, mostly ‘Me, myself and I’. I just enjoyed that song. 

And Frank Ocean, Channel Orange. They are not direct comparisons to my music but they’ve always inspired me, lyric wise and that vibes. I’ve always loved Frank Ocean, Channel Orange. It came out in 2012 and I’ve listened to it regularly since it came out. 

As I said before 90s r&b, Jill Scott, artists like that are big inspirations. I listen to a lot of music but I try not to listen to something that is too similar to me just because I can get into these patterns when I can maybe try to make something quite similar to them so I sometimes try to listen to different genres so I can broaden my musical mind.

Akemi : When I was younger I used to really enjoy indie music to be fair. I don’t listen to it too much now, but it’s inspiring for lyrics. I used to like The Kooks and the Arctic Monkeys, very well known indie music. Another music band that inspired me is a band called Daughter. It’s quite different but it has a big influence especially if you like lyric writing and the kind of chilled vibes of the song. It’s something that definitely inspired me. It contrasts with what I make now but there’s still a link in a way. I try to broaden my music taste, I’m always open to listen to new things just to get a different vibes.

koladapina : What have you been listening or discovering lately ? 

Akemi : A lot of the time I listen to some Manchester musicians, for example Children of Zeus. I love them, they’re very lovely people as well. Also I’ve been listening to IAMDDB, also from Manchester, and an artist called Biig Pigg. Always listening to artists like SZA. I’ve been recently listening to more afrobeats which is not usual for me but have been enjoying it. I love afrobeats music but I didn’t know too much. I found an afrobeats playlist and I’m really enjoying it.

You like afrobeats too ? Check out our Black is the new Black playlist!

You can find Akemi on our playlist Artist to Watch.